Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, witnessed the inauguration of the Ben Ezra Synagogue, one of the oldest synagogues in Egypt, after the completion of its restoration work, accompanied by Ahmed Issa, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Major General Hisham Amna, Minister of Local Development, and Major General Khaled Abdel Aal, Governor of Cairo. As part of his tour, which he started this morning, to inspect a number of archaeological and heritage sites, in which restoration and maintenance work has been completed, following the opening of the control center for the national emergency and public safety network at the headquarters of the Cairo Governorate General Court.
Ahmed Issa, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, said that the temple restoration project included meticulous architectural restoration work, as well as work to treat and prevent danger to the temple’s roofs, isolate the roofs with the best methods of isolation, clean and treat the stones, and re-coordinate the site in an appropriate way that allows visual vision of the monument, in addition to maintaining the system. Complete lighting, cleaning of copper and iron units and marble columns, as well as restoration works for antique decorations and the library.
Minister of Tourism: The Ben Ezra Synagogue is one of the most important and oldest Jewish synagogues
The Minister of Tourism and Antiquities added that the “Ben Ezra” temple is one of the most important and oldest synagogues in Egypt, as it contained many valuable books related to the customs and traditions of the Jews and their social life in Egypt, in addition to the “geniza” of the Jews in Egypt, which is a collection of books and scrolls. And their papers, and are of importance to scholars and researchers interested in the social life of the Jews in Egypt.
Ahmed Issa indicated that the temple is attributed to Abraham bin Ezra in the 12th century AD, and it was rebuilt in the 19th century AD. As for the layout of the temple, it is rectangular, its area is about 3500 square meters, with facades devoid of decorations, and as for the interior of the temple, it follows the basilica style, as it is divided by Two columns to three parallel galleries, the middle of which is the widest, and in the middle corridor there are two platforms, the first is known as the “Miracle Atlas”, while the second is the “Pima” prayer platform, and on the second floor there is the ladies’ prayer balcony and it occupies three sides; And at its two ends are two rooms for the collectibles and the geniza. There is also a well behind the temple for purification, with which ablution is performed before entering the temple, especially the washing of the feet.
Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, from the event
Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, from the event